High School Counselor Resources

High school counselors utilize essential tools and resources to effectively support their students. These resources include websites, apps, books, and more, improving how professionals guide and assist students. Both experienced counselors and those new to the field, especially in high school settings, will find the following resources particularly helpful.

5 Helpful Online Resources for High School Counselors

1. College Planning Resource

The Comprehensive College Planning Resource is an excellent tool for school counselors who want to guide students through the college admissions process. It covers information on standardized tests, financial aid opportunities, and mentorship programs. This resource helps counselors give each student the support they need to make informed choices about their futures.

2. Bullying Resources

High school counselors can tackle bullying effectively with essential tools from Bullying Resources. This site offers strategies for spotting bullying behavior, intervention techniques, and resources to help students understand the impact of bullying. With anti-bullying activities and research-backed information, counselors can create a safer school environment for all students.

3. PBIS World

This resource allows counselors to support Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) in schools. Through a tiered approach, PBIS allows counselors to address student behaviors in a supportive environment.Tier 1 covers support for all students, while Tiers 2 and 3 focus on extra help for those who need it. The site has easy-to-use strategies, tools for tracking data, and behavior plans to help counselors encourage positive behavior and improve student outcomes.

4. Learning for Justice

With Learning for Justice, high school counselors have access to an invaluable resource that can actively encourage inclusivity in school communities. It provides free materials that support social justice, equity, and diversity.Counselors can access lesson plans, articles, and multimedia resources to help students understand and appreciate differences among their peers. The site also offers grants for projects focused on anti-bias education, giving counselors the tools to create meaningful initiatives in their schools.

5. School Counselor Resources

This resource, part of the Social Studies School Service, reviews a wide range of materials each year, including videos, books, and games. It helps school counselors find the right tools to build effective counseling programs. Objective feedback and insights on various resources are available, making it easier to develop a strong library and toolkit for school counseling.

‍4 Essential Apps for High School Counselors

1. ASCA National Model App

The ASCA National Model App helps school counselors stay on track with the framework set by the American School Counselor Association. It provides easy access to the ASCA National Model, helping counselors organize their work and ensure they’re following best practices to support student success.

2. SCUTA

The School Counselor Use of Time Analysis (SCUTA) allows counselors to track their time and match their work with the ASCA National Model. It lets counselors log tasks and generate reports, making it easier to stay organized and show their impact.

3. ParentSquare

ParentSquare is a great communication tool that lets counselors send messages to students and their families right away. It’s perfect for quick updates about important events, deadlines, or resources—all without sharing personal phone numbers. This way, everyone stays informed and connected throughout the school year.

4. College Guidance Network

This platform helps high school students find college resources that fit their needs. Counselors can use it to guide students through the college search process and offer personalized recommendations based on each student’s academic profile and interests.

4 Valuable Websites for High School Counselors

1. School Counselor Toolkit (College Board)

The School Counselor Toolkit from the College Board is a go-to resource for all things college planning and financial aid. It provides tools that help counselors guide students through the college application process without feeling overwhelmed.

2. O*NET Online

This is a great resource for helping students explore careers and analyze jobs, especially for those getting ready to start working right after graduation. The website allows counselors to guide students in identifying potential career paths based on their interests and skills while also providing detailed information about various occupations.

3. ASCA’s High School Resources

The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) provides a variety of helpful resources for high school counselors. On the ASCA website, counselors can find best practices, advocacy tools, and professional development opportunities to boost their effectiveness in supporting students.

4. School-Counselor.org

School-Counselor.org is a one-stop shop for all things school counseling. It is an extensive resource covering everything from lesson plans to intervention strategies and many other tools and materials that are perfect for high school counselors looking to enhance their practices.

4 Recommended Books for High School Counselors

1. The High School Counselor’s Handbook

This handbook, filled with strategies and insights, is a practical guide tailored specifically for high school counselors managing their complex roles.

2. Evidence-Based School Counseling

This book breaks down evidence-based counseling practices with real-world examples that high school counselors can put to use right away.

3. The Use of Data in School Counseling

Data-driven counseling is the focus here. This resource shows how to use data to improve student outcomes, making it a must-have for counselors who want to use information effectively.

4. The School Counseling and School Social Work Treatment Planner

This planner tackles different behavioral issues that high school students might face. It provides clear guidance to help counselors create effective and easy-to-follow treatment plans for students dealing with these challenges.

5 Professional Development Opportunities for High School Counselors

1. American School Counselor Association (ASCA)

ASCA is the leading organization for school counselors in the United States. It offers a range of professional development options, including webinars, conferences, and training modules that focus on the best practices in school counseling.

2. The College Board

This organization offers training for high school counselors to help students get ready for exams like the SAT and AP tests. The training goes over exam formats, security protocols, and tips for test preparation.

3. International School Counselor Association (ISCA)

ISCA offers tailored professional development to address the unique challenges faced by counselors working in international or culturally diverse settings. Members benefit from excellent training opportunities that focus on relevant issues facing high school counselors today.

4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

Getting NBCC certification can help boost career opportunities, make it easier to transfer licenses between states, and offer access to extra training resources for improving counseling skills. The NBCC website shares how to earn this valuable certification.

5. National Career Development Association (NCDA)

The NCDA offers professional development to equip counselors with the tools needed to guide students toward successful career paths.

Supporting Counselors for Student Success

School counselor resources help high school counselors provide well-rounded support for students. These tools support counselors in various ways, including tackling bullying and assisting with college applications. These resources aim to create a positive environment where students can succeed.

To further enhance the counseling experience, schools should consider using Pathways, an education software that helps track and analyze student graduation pathways. It ensures that secondary students stay on track to graduate, making it a valuable tool for counselors looking to support student success.

If your school is interested in new ways to improve the learning experience for children, you may also be interested in automating tasks and streamlining processes so that your teachers have more time to teach. Education Advanced offers a large suite of tools that may be able to help:

• Evaluation: A solution for documenting every step of the staff evaluation process, including walk-throughs, self-evaluations, supporting evidence, reporting, and performance analytics.
• Pathways: A graduation tracking tool that enables administrators and counselors to create, track, and analyze graduation pathways, ensuring secondary students stay on track to graduate.
• TestHound: Our test accommodation software helps schools coordinate thousands of students across all state and local K-12 assessments while considering various accommodations, such as for reading disabilities, physical disabilities, and translations.